Monday - The Gospel According To Mark
Welcome to Daily Prayer. This is week 2 of an 11-week journey through Mark’s account of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are going to follow Jesus all the way from the wilderness to the cross and empty tomb. May our hearts to burn within us as we travel along the way. As we begin our time together, let’s quiet our hearts and minds before the Lord.
A Scripture Reading from Mark 1:14-20
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.
A Prayer of Adoration
Jesus, You are the King who has come near.
You did not come quietly or timidly—you came proclaiming the Kingdom of God with authority and power. All authority in heaven and on earth belongs to You. You speak, and lives change. You call, and destinies are rewritten.
Today we declare our allegiance to You alone. You are not just a teacher we admire or a Savior we need — You are our King. We worship You for who You are: holy, sovereign, and good. Like the fishermen by the sea, we want our lives to respond fully to Your call. We lay down our nets — our plans, our comforts, our control — and we choose to follow You. You are worthy of our devotion, our obedience, and our praise.
A Prayer of Confession
Jesus, our King, we confess that we do not always follow You quickly or fully. There are moments when we hesitate, when we cling to our nets, when fear or comfort or pride keeps us from trusting Your call. We confess the times we have heard Your voice but delayed our obedience.
Forgive us for the ways we have trusted ourselves more than You. Forgive us for doubting Your goodness or resisting Your direction. Cleanse our hearts from divided loyalty and restore in us a willing spirit. We want to follow You not halfway, not occasionally, but completely. Thank You for Your mercy that meets us even when we fall short.
A Prayer of Trust
Jesus, we choose again to trust You. You call us to follow even when we don’t know all the details, even when the path feels uncertain. Your ways are higher than our ways, and Your wisdom is perfect. We surrender our need to understand everything before obeying. We trust that when You lead, You provide. When You call, You equip. When You send, You go with us. Shape our hearts to believe that Your plans are good and Your Kingdom is worth everything. Teach us to walk by faith, not by sight, confident that following You is always the best way.
A Prayer of Intercession
Jesus, You came to proclaim good news to the world You love. We pray now for our families, our friends, our neighbors, and our communities. Open eyes to see You as King. Soften hearts to respond to Your call. Draw people out of darkness and into the life of Your eternal Kingdom.
We pray for those who feel far from God, for those who are weary, searching, or resistant. Let Your voice be heard clearly in their lives. Use us as witnesses of Your grace and truth. May our world know the hope of the Kingdom You came to bring, and may many follow You with joy and faith.
Read Again
As we read the passage again, let’s listen for a word or a phrase that the Holy Spirit might want to say to us from today’s verses.
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.
A Moment of Reflection
Lord, search my heart and point our anything that is holding me back from following you fully, freely, and passionately.
A Weekly Verse to Memorize:
Mark 1:17
“And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.’”
Closing Prayer
Over the next few moments, reflect on Jesus as King. This is THE GOOD NEWS for the world. No longer does darkness roam free. Heaven has come to earth and continues to come through us by the power of His Spirit. And one day ALL THINGS will be made new again. Share your love for Jesus the King. Express your willingness to follow Him wherever He leads.
“Teach us to fish” is a prayer that want to have ever-present in our hearts.